CHAP. XV. FESTIVAL OF BUBASTIS. 303 



were two dogs, a hawk, and an Ibis; which, like 

 the number 4, had a mysterious meaning. The 

 dogs represented the two hemispheres, the hawk 

 the Sun, and the Ibis the Moon ; but he does not 

 state if this was usual at all festivals, or confined 

 to those in honour of particular Deities. 



Many fetes were held at different seasons of the 

 year ; for, as Herodotus observes *, far from being 

 contented with one festival, the Egyptians cele- 

 brate annually a very great number : of which that 

 of Diana (Pasht), kept at the city of Bubastis, holds 

 the first rank, and is performed wdth the greatest 

 pomp. Next to it is that of Isis, at Busiris, a 

 city situated in the middle of the Delta, with a 

 very large temple, consecrated to that Goddess, 

 the Ceres of the Greeks. The third in importance 

 is the fete of Minerva (Neith), held at Sais ; the 

 fourth, of the Sun at Heliopolis ; the fifth, of 

 Latona in the city of Buto ; and the sixth is that 

 performed at Papremis, in honour of Mars. 



In going to celebrate the festival of Diana at 

 Bubastis, it was customary to repair thither by 

 water ; and parties of men and women were 

 crowded together on that occasion in numerous 

 boats, without distinction of age or sex. During 

 the whole of the journey, several women played on 

 crotalaf, and some men on the flute ; others accom- 

 panying them with the voice and the clapping of 

 hands, as was usual at musical parties in Egypt. 



* Herodot. ii. 59. et seq. 



f Vide Vol. II. p. 318.; and Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 279. 



